Nut-lock for railway-joints.



I PATBN'TED JUNE 14, 1904. J J.' RIGHARDSO NUT LOGK FOR RAILWA NTS.

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP 04 UNITED STATES Patented June 14, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

NUT-LOCK FOR RAILWAY-JOINTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,656, dated June 14, 1904.

Application filed February 26, 1904. Serial 1t). 195.458. (No modeL) f all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that I, J OCELYN J. RICHARDSON, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, and a resident of Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nut-Locks for Railway-J oints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to nut-locks, and in particular to that class of devices inwhich the nut is locked to the bolt by means of a flexible key or similar member.

The main object of this invention is to provide a nut-lock which shall be cheap and simple of construction and at the same time reliable and effective in operation.

A further object of the invention is to providea device of the character described in which the key or fastening means does not require to be specially manufactured, but can be made and adjusted by an ordinary workman as needed.

For a fuller comprehension of the nature of this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved nut. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal section of the nut and bolt, showing the locking-key in position. Fig. 4 is a-transverse section of bolt on line 4 4 ofFig. 3. Fig. 5 is an end elevation Fig. 6 is a side elevation of thekey. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of nut. Fig. 8 is is a side elevation of the complete device.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference-letters indicate like parts in all the views, A designates my improved nut. This nut may be of any size or shape desired and is provided on its outer face with an integral outwardly-projecting ring or collar B, Whose internal diameter is substantially the same as that of the nut. This ring may easily be formed upon the nut when manufactured by any well-known and economical method.

perforations are preferably equally spaced,

as shown in Fig. 2. Their exact number is immaterial, though they should be rather close together to insure the best results. The bolt D is provided with a longitudinal groove E, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, extending from its end through the greater part of the threaded portion. This groove is of a width substantially equal to the diameter of the holes C. F indicates the locking-key, which is adapted to enter the groove in the bolt and project through one of the holes in the collar B on the nut, as shown in Fig. 3. This locking-key I regard as one of the chief features of my invention. of flexible Wire, preferably copper, which is clipped ofi by the Workman and bent, by means of a pair of pliers or other suitable instrument, into somewhat'the shape shown in Fig. 6.

In operation the nut is put on the bolt in the ordinary manner and screwed up home. Then if one of the holes 0 is not in line with the groove E the nut is given a slight additional turn in one direction or the other, so as to bring the nearest hole in the collar directly over the groove in the bolt. The workman then inserts the bent piece of wirein the groove and in the hole C from below and by a downward movement of the free end causes the bent portion to pass through the hole 0 and project up through the collar, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig; 3.. It now only remains to clench the end of this wire down by means of a light blow from above, bending it over upon the collar, as shown in Fig. 8. It is readily seen that when in this position it abso.

lutely locks the nut against rotation and at the same time is itself securely held in position against all accidental forces, such as jarring, &c. It has the advantages, however, of being easily removed when desired and of being unlocked Withoutdamage to either bolt or nut. In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a modified form of nut, the modifications consisting in providing the collar with internal screw-threads, forming continuations of the nut-thread. This form may be preferable in some cases.

I am aware that it has long been old to em- It consists of a short piece ploy perforated nuts and grooved bolts for forming nut-locks and make no claims broadly to any as such; but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent In a nut-lock, a bolt having a longitudinal groove, a nut provided with an integral collar radially perforated projecting from its outer face, the collar being smaller in outside diameter than the outside diameter of the nut, a flexible key consisting of a wire having a straight body portion and a hooked end, the hooked end being adapted to be passed through one of said perforations in the collar with the end thereof projecting and the straight part of the key lying in the groove, the projecting end of the hook being adapted to be bent down upon itself over the collar, whereby the key will be more securely maintained in position, the key operating to positively lock the nut and bolt against relative movement.

Signed by me in Baltimore eity'and State of Maryland this 22d day of February, 1904.

J OCELYN J. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

OREGON MILTON DENNIS, JOHN E. ORoss. 

